Insect decline will cause serious ecological harm
Attention has recently been focused on the health of wild nature, first by a report suggesting that diverse UK insect populations are declining at alarming rates (Report, 11 February), and now by one showing pollinators are in trouble (Bees and hoverflies lost from a quarter of British sites, major study finds, 27 March).
While headlines implying that imminent extinction are exaggerated, as entomologists and ecologists we do think there is good evidence that insects are declining, and the ecological consequences may be serious. Insectsmassively outrank all other animals in diversity, numbers and biomass. Since insects underpin most non-marine food networks, serious declines would threaten the stability of wild nature, leading to reductions in numbers of insectivorous animals and those that eat them. The loss of pollinators would also adversely affect agriculture, since many crops depend on insects to set seed.
Similar reports in each of the last three years provoked a brief flurry of media attention followed by deafening silence. Most worrying of all, there has been no apparent reaction from science-funding bodies or the government. We call on the UK’s research establishment to enable intensive investigation of the real threat of ecological disruption caused by insect declines without delay.
Posted by admin
on Mar 31 2019. Filed under Environmental livelihood.
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